The Best Action Lens

Let's get this out of the way first: the best action lens for your digital SLR camera will be EXPENSIVE.

Action photography is very demanding on the camera, lens and photographer, and a second-rate lens is ultimately just going to frustrate you.

On the plus side, once you plunk down a large sum of money for an exceptional action lens, you'll never have to replace it.

Lens Speed

So what is it that makes the best action lenses so expensive?

Two words: maximum aperture.

Every lens has a limit to how wide it can open up and how much light it can let in. This limit is called the maximum aperture.

The maximum aperture of every lens is listed as part of the lens name. For example, a 28-135mm f/4 lens has a maximum aperture of f/4.

The smaller the number, the wider the maximum aperture. In this case, a 28-75mm f/2.8 lets in more light than a 18-55mm f/3.5.

A lens that lets in more light allows you to use faster shutter speeds - the shutter does not have to be open for long periods of time because enough light is passing through the lens to get a correct exposure.

Since lenses with wide maximum apertures let you use faster shutter speeds, they are also commonly called "fast" lenses.

If action photography is your cup of tea, then you're going to need a fast lens.

Telephoto Required

All lenses come in different focal lengths, and this is a measure of how far away you can be from your subject and still get a close-up.

The best action lens is going to fall into the telephoto focal length, which means anywhere between 100 and 300 millimeters.

A telephoto lens will allow you to stand on the sidelines of your favorite sporting event and capture nice close-up shots of the players in action.

But the need for a telephoto lens causes a bit of a problem.

The longer the focal length of a lens, the harder it is for the lens to have a wide maximum aperture.

While it might be fairly straightforward to construct a 200mm lens with a f/5.6 maximum aperture, building the same lens with an f/2.8 maximim aperture (significantly wider) is not so easy.

Fast telephoto lenses use a lot of glass, are very large and heavy, and consequently come with price tags that are not for the faint of heart.

Constant Aperture

Zoom lenses can either have variable or constant maximum aperture.

When a zoom lens has a variable maximim aperture, the maximum opening of the lens changes as you zoom.

An 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens has a maximum aperture of f/3.5 at the 18mm setting, but that narrows down to f/5.6 at the 55mm setting.

By comparison, a zoom lens with a constant maximum aperture never changes, no matter how much you zoom. You can distinguish these lenses because they only list one number for maximum aperture (i.e. 28-135mm f/4).

The problem with variable maximum aperture lenses is that every time you zoom your exposure settings change.

Since the lens lets in less light at the telephoto setting, this affects the shutter speed that you are using (it slows down, to let in more light and create a balanced exposure).

Since you really want your shutter speed to be consistent when you're taking action photos, the best action lens should have a constant maximim aperture.

The Best Action Lenses

All lenses are manufacturer-specific, and the best lens for a Canon camera won't be the same as for a Nikon, Pentax or Olympus digital SLR.

Since the lenses that I have listed below are telephoto zooms with wide constant maximum apertures, they do cost a LOT of money.

Just realize that the money that you spend on a lens like this will pay off once you've captured some exceptional action shots with it.

CANON: 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

If action photography is your passion, and you've got a Canon SLR, then this is the lens for you. Regarded as one of the best Canon lenses you can buy, it produces images with exceptional quality regardless of the camera it's attached to. Pay attention the photogs on the sidelines the next time you go to a sporting event, and you'll probably see a lot of these lenses in use.

NIKON: 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR

This exceptional lens from Nikon has got it all: a medium zoom range, wide f/2.8 maximum aperture, fast silent AF-S autofocus and image stabilization (VR for Vibration Reduction). This lens is also part of the Nikon ED line, which uses special optical elements to ensure bright, clear, high-contrast images.

SONY: 70-200mm f/2.8 G-Series

Even though this lens for the Sony ALPA digital SLR camera line isn't available yet, when it comes out, it's going to be your best option for action photography, since it meets many of the requirements that the other lenses on this page fulfill.

PENTAX: Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 APO EX DG HSM

Your best bet if you're the owner of a Pentax SLR is the highly-regarded Sigma 70-200. With a nice wide aperture and exceptional optics, the Sigma will get you close to the action and will produce sharp images. The addition of HSM (Hyper-Sonic Motor) increases the speed of the autofocus system, which helps a lot when you're trying to track moving targets.

OLYMPUS: Zuiko 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5 E-ED

I made a slight concession for this lens - it doesn't have a CONSTANT maximum aperture, but it does have wide apertures of f/2.8 (wide angle) and f/3.5 (telephoto). It also doesn't have the BEST autofocus system, but it's not terrible. So what's the rationale for picking this lens? The alternative lens (with a constant maximum aperture) costs upwards of $5,000. This lens should take care of your action photography needs without requiring you to sell your car.

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